NATIONAL STANDARDS

The National Standards Seal by our name indicates official confirmation from the Council on Foundations that we have met the most rigorous standards in philanthropy. It affirms out commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability. It says our grantmaking includes an open, competitive process designed to address the changing needs of our community. The National Standards Seal also confirms our history honoring donors' wishes - to support the arts, cultivate gardens, save endangered species, cure illness, expand literacy, feed children - and support countless other important causes.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program was established in 2000 in cooperation with the Council on Foundations. National Standards guide community foundations in establishing legal, ethical and effective operational practices that serve as blueprints for internal development and benchmarks for external assessment. National Standards require the Community Foundation to document its policies in donor services, investment management, grantmaking and administration. To receive confirmation of National Standards compliance, the Community Foundation for Western Iowa submitted its organizational and financial policies and procedures to a rigorous peer review.

More information on National Standards Compliance can be found on the Council on Foundations' website.